Commentary & Community

Last month, House Democrats pulled legislation that would have increased congressional salaries. But now Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is saying that a cost-of-living raise would be a good idea. And it appears that a top House Republican supports the idea, too.

The House was set to consider the annual funding legislation for Congress last month. The bill contains a provision that would reinstate annual cost-of-living raises for members of Congress. The last time such a raise occurred was 15 years ago. However, some members objected to this raise, and that legislation was pulled from the floor.

Members of Congress currently make $174,000 a year.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently said that she supports such an increase. She argued that unless members of Congress are well compensated, then they would turn to more lucrative careers – such as lobbying. She also said that this isn’t really a raise; it’s just keeping congressional salaries in line with inflation.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) appeared to agree with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. He urged consideration of the issue, saying that Congress should not be a place where only millionaires can serve.

The House of Representatives and Senate are returning from their Independence Day recess this week. It is unclear when the Legislative Branch appropriations bill will be considered and if it will contain the automatic cost-of-living pay increase when it is.

Do you support giving members of Congress a yearly cost-of-living pay increase? Does stopping annual congressional pay increases give members of Congress an incentive to go into lobbying, where they will earn more money?